The benefits of Western medicine have evolved tremendously, with a wealth of tests and medications to treat many conditions. But remembering to take medication or perform a test regularly, consistently, and at specific times can be difficult for elderly people with short-term memory loss, or teenagers absorbed in activities. With mobile devices becoming our constant companions, could a smartphone or tablet offer a solution?
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has created a simple…
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HumBio_p041

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Time Required

Average (6-10 days)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

This project requires the use of a computer with Internet access (preferably wireless). See the Materials list for details.

Have you ever seen a "Hail Mary" football pass, where the quarterback tries to throw the ball as far as possible to reach the end zone and score a touchdown? Or a last second game tying soccer goal from midfield? How far the ball will go does not just depend on how hard a player throws or kicks it; it also depends on the angle at which the player launches the ball. In this sports science project, you will investigate how launch angle affects the distance that a ball travels by filming…
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Sports_p036

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Time Required

Average (6-10 days)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

This science project requires a computer with internet access and a digital video camera with a tripod. See the Materials and Equipment list for details.

Cost

Low ($20 - $50)

Safety

Be sure to do this science project in an open area like an empty football field, where you will not hit people or buildings with the ball.

Can you remember what the weather was like last week? Last year? Here's a project that looks at what the weather was like for over a hundred years. You'll use historical climate data to look at moisture conditions in regions across the continental U.S. You'll use a spreadsheet program to calculate the frequency of different moisture conditions for each region and make graphs for comparison. Which part of the country has the most frequent droughts? The most frequent periods of prolonged…
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Do you live in an area where the weather changes a lot from season to season throughout the year? Or do you live in a place where the weather stays pretty much the same all year long? How dynamic is the weather, and how does it compare to climate? In this experiment you can use the Internet to conduct your own investigation about how climate and weather in your local area change over time.
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If you've ever played or watched basketball, you might already know that your chances of successfully banking a shot on the backboard are higher in certain positions on the basketball court, even when keeping the distance from the hoop the same. Ever wondered what would account for this? Do you think you could actually explain this using geometry? This science project will put your knowledge of geometry and algebra to good use. You will calculate and quantify how much more difficult it is to…
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What makes some objects more streamlined than others? Find out which ordinary objects around your house are made to move smoothly through the water in this easy science fair project. Which objects will produce the most drag when pulled through the water?
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Aero_p022

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Time Required

Very Short (≤ 1 day)

Prerequisites

You will need access to a swimming pool.

Material Availability

Readily available

Cost

Very Low (under $20)

Safety

Adult supervision is required. Use caution when working near the swimming pool.

In physics class, you have probably rolled your eyes at some point after being assigned a "projectile motion" homework problem where you use equations to predict how a ball will move through the air. This experiment will show you just how fun that problem can be by using a real catapult to launch a ball and videotaping it as it flies along its path. Then, you will analyze the video and compare it to what the equations predicted. If you have ever wondered if those equations in your physics…
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Phys_p089

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Time Required

Average (6-10 days)

Prerequisites

This project requires a basic understanding of algebra, trigonometry (sine and cosine functions), and physics (kinematics—two-dimensional projectile motion), or the willingness to learn about these subjects on your own.

Material Availability

This project requires access to a video camera (not included in the cost estimate) and the purchase of a catapult kit. (See the Materials and Equipment list for details.)

Cost

Average ($40 - $80)

Safety

Minor injury possible. Never aim the catapult at anyone, and keep your hands and fingers clear of the moving catapult arm when launching the catapult.

Do you have a favorite picture? When you have a photo that you treasure, you want it to look as good as possible. Find out how the resolution of a digital photo effects the way it looks when you print it out. How does the quality of the image relate to the resolution?
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Have you ever noticed that when you drop a basketball, its bounce does not reach the height you dropped it from? Why is that? When a basketball bounces, such as on a basketball court, its bounce actually loses momentum by transferring energy elsewhere. This means that to dribble the basketball, players must continually replace the transferred energy by pushing down on the ball. But what happens to the "lost" energy? As we know from physics, energy is not really lost, it just changes form. One…
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Sports_p038

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Time Required

Short (2-5 days)

Prerequisites

Must be able to dribble a basketball 100 times in a row quickly.

Material Availability

An infrared thermometer is required to do this science project. See the Materials and Equipment list for details on where to buy one.

Passports, identification cards, bus passes, and even some credit cards contain RFID tags. An RFID (radio-frequency identification) tag allows a card to be read by a computer from a short distance away. While this is very useful in everyday life, would you believe you can make music with it? RFID + sampled music sounds + a little crafting = a fun musical instrument that is limited only by your imagination. In this science project, you will make handbells out of paper cups that play real sounds,…
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CompSci_p049

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Time Required

Short (2-5 days)

Prerequisites

Some previous programming experience (preferably in Python), or interest in learning how to write Python code, is preferable. Musical background is also helpful, but not required.

Material Availability

This science project requires an RFID reader and tags. See the Materials list for details.

Cost

Average ($50 - $100)

Safety

The construction steps require use of a craft knife and hot glue. Be careful when using these items and ask an adult if you need assistance.

You can find this page online at: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/search.shtml?v=solt&pi=CompSci_p012&p=2

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